Highlife Singer Orlando Julius Dies At 79

Highlife sensation Orlando Julius has died at the age of 79.

Julius' passing was made known in the early hours of Friday, April 15, by his wife, Latoya Ekemode, who disclosed that the veteran artiste passed on in his sleep on Thursday night.

"Yes, my husband passed on late last night, there was no indication that death was coming, he was not ill, he only slept and died in his sleep", she stated.

The demise of the singer was also confirmed by his promoter Bimbo Esho, who revealed that he got the tragic news via his WhatsApp account.

Orlando Julius

"Bimbo, Daddy Has Passed On….This was the message I stumbled on waking up at exactly 3 am to peruse my WhatsApp page. It was a message sent to me by Orlando Julius’ beautiful and supportive wife Lady Latoya.

"Orlando Julius, a native of Ijebu Ijesha, succumbed to the cold hands of death and breathed his last few hours ago at the age of 79.

"We shall miss one of Nigeria’s fathers of Afro/Highlife Music, a gentleman, and a fine Saxophonist.

"May daddy Orlando Julius’ soul journey well. To the entire Ekemode family may God give you the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss", Esho's post reads.

Born in 1943 in Ikole, Nigeria to a merchant family during British colonialism, Orlando Julius was a singer, bandleader, saxophonist, and songwriter who was known for his affiliation with the Afrobeat genre.

Some of his albums include Disco Hi-Life, Ololufe, Love, Peace and Happiness; Dance Afrobeat.